Post Sale Update: After 30 bids on eBay, this TDR sold for $5,995.
Ultimate Dual. That’s what Yamaha slapped onto the tank of the TDR250, and it was a unique descriptor for a unique bike. A retuned TZR250 two-stroke motor good for nearly 50 horsepower in a dual-sport frame was unlike anything available in the US at the time – especially because Yamaha never officially sold it here! A few were sold to our northerly neighbor of Canada, and over time a small number have crossed the border. This example was imported from Japan last year, and it’s said to run great and be in “good original shape.”
Consider that this nearly 30 year old bike makes 13 horsepower more than a new KLR, yet it weighs 92 pounds less! If that wasn’t good enough, check out this article on ADV Pulse for what else made the TDR special, including Yamaha’s assertion that the TDR’s engine was the first two-stroke motor to utilize both a CDI and an electronic advance system.
This example has approximately 9,375 miles and it just got a full service which included fresh coolant, brake fluid, transmission fluid, and a carb cleaning. With the exception of braided brake lines, it’s said to be completely stock. Flaws include some scratches on the left exhaust chamber as the bike was dropped on the left side in the past. The fork gaiters should be replaced and the seller suggests you should change out the tires, too. The seller has this bike listed for sale for $5,900, or you can try your luck with the no reserve auction linked below. For an extra $550, the seller will include a set of Noguchi expansion chambers if you’re really feeling frisky.
Find this TDR250 for sale in San Jacinto, California with bidding up to $829